Ohio congressional candidate Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher released a letter Tuesday to the Christian Broadcasting Network that attributes Barack Obama's ascent to the White House to his "sudden" conversion to Christianity, claims Obama's parents were Communists, and describes his own religious faith.

"One of the reasons I really dig Christianity is that it’s so incredibly powerful and amazing," says the letter from Wurzelbacher, the Republican challenger to Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur. "The lives of millions of people have been given meaning by their faith in Christ. And what better confirmation of that strength do we have than the life story of President Obama?"

Wurzelbacher says he dislikes it when others question whether Obama is a Christian, and says the president should be given "the love and respect the Golden Rule" puts forth.

But the letter hardly constitutes an endorsement of Obama, whose clash with Wurzelbacher at a 2008 campaign appearance thrust the plumber into the political spotlight:

"Imagine being the child of a mixed-race marriage – especially in the turbulent 60’s and free-wheeling '70s. And when you throw in that dad was a Muslim and mom an atheist – you know it could not have been easy – and they were Communists for crying out loud! At age six, young Barry was shipped off to Indonesia and exposed to Islam for several years. His parents divorced, he returned to the U.S. and Barack was placed with his grandparents. By the time he got to college, he was experimenting with cocaine, marijuana and even thought about using heroin."

"Hardly sounds like one who would become President of the United States, the most powerful man in the greatest, most powerful country in the history of the world, does it? It seems against all odds… … almost miraculous?"

Wurzelbacher told the Christian Broadcasting Network that he plans to distribute the letter at churches during his upcoming congressional race. The network also revealed that Wurzelbacher will describe his conversion to Christianity in an upcoming broadcast of the network's "700 Club" television program.

"Not that long ago, I became a Christian," Wurzelbacher's letter said. "It was a magnificent event in my life that transformed me."

The letter also ascribes Obama's election as president to his sudden conversion to Christianity.

"After Barack Hussein Obama suddenly cast-off his Muslim roots, rejected his mother’s disbelief in God, turned tail on the Islam of his early life and converted to Christianity -- BLAM -- he’s elected President. Anyone who believes the two things are not connected is being disingenuous at best. I don’t know how or when it happened, whether when he was partying at college or five minutes before he first decided to run for office, but it doesn’t matter -- he came to Christ and he is my brother."

"He comes across as being all 'kumbaya' and then he starts throwing spitwads at the President," said Fought. "He says he accepts him for who he is, and then slaps him for his background. I don't understand his messaging strategy at all."